Cisco IOS XE SD-WAN Software Console Privilege Escalation Vulnerability
Key facts
- Attack vector
- Physical
- Privileges required
- Low
- User interaction
- None
- Attack complexity
- Low
- Impact type
- Privilege escalation
- Confidentiality · integrity · availability
- High · High · High
- Fix status
- No fix listed
Attack profile from CVSS 3.1 · CNA. Fix status from CNA. Impact type from CWE-269.
Summary
A vulnerability in the role-based access control of Cisco IOS XE SD-WAN Software could allow an authenticated, local attacker with read-only privileges to obtain administrative privileges by using the console port when the device is in the default SD-WAN configuration. This vulnerability occurs because the default configuration is applied for console authentication and authorization. An attacker could exploit this vulnerability by connecting to the console port and authenticating as a read-only user. A successful exploit could allow a user with read-only permissions to access administrative privileges.
Why it matters now
SSVC decision points
CISA ADP · SSVC 2.0.3
- Exploitation
- None
- Automatable
- No
- Technical impact
- Total
The decision (Track, Attend, Act) also depends on your mission and well-being impact; see CISA's SSVC guide.
Affected products
| Vendor | Product | Affected versions | Fixed in | Status | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cisco | Cisco IOS XE Software | all versions | — | No fix listed | CNA |
- Cisco IOS XE Software VendorCisco Affected all versions Fixed in — No fix listed CNA
CPE configurations NVD · 17
| CPE | Versions | Role | Vendor |
|---|---|---|---|
| cpe:2.3:o:cisco:ios_xe_sd-wan:17.2.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | 17.2.0 | Vulnerable | Cisco |
| cpe:2.3:a:cisco:cloud_services_router_1000v:-:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | not specified by NVD | Running on | Cisco |
| cpe:2.3:h:cisco:1100_integrated_services_router:-:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | not specified by NVD | Running on | Cisco |
| cpe:2.3:h:cisco:1101_integrated_services_router:-:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | not specified by NVD | Running on | Cisco |
| cpe:2.3:h:cisco:1109_integrated_services_router:-:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | not specified by NVD | Running on | Cisco |
| cpe:2.3:h:cisco:1111x_integrated_services_router:-:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | not specified by NVD | Running on | Cisco |
| cpe:2.3:h:cisco:111x_integrated_services_router:-:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | not specified by NVD | Running on | Cisco |
| cpe:2.3:h:cisco:1120_integrated_services_router:-:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | not specified by NVD | Running on | Cisco |
| cpe:2.3:h:cisco:1160_integrated_services_router:-:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | not specified by NVD | Running on | Cisco |
| cpe:2.3:h:cisco:4221_integrated_services_router:-:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | not specified by NVD | Running on | Cisco |
- cpe:2.3:o:cisco:ios_xe_sd-wan:17.2.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 17.2.0 Vulnerable ·Cisco
- cpe:2.3:a:cisco:cloud_services_router_1000v:-:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions not specified by NVD Running on ·Cisco
- cpe:2.3:h:cisco:1100_integrated_services_router:-:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions not specified by NVD Running on ·Cisco
- cpe:2.3:h:cisco:1101_integrated_services_router:-:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions not specified by NVD Running on ·Cisco
- cpe:2.3:h:cisco:1109_integrated_services_router:-:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions not specified by NVD Running on ·Cisco
- cpe:2.3:h:cisco:1111x_integrated_services_router:-:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions not specified by NVD Running on ·Cisco
- cpe:2.3:h:cisco:111x_integrated_services_router:-:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions not specified by NVD Running on ·Cisco
- cpe:2.3:h:cisco:1120_integrated_services_router:-:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions not specified by NVD Running on ·Cisco
- cpe:2.3:h:cisco:1160_integrated_services_router:-:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions not specified by NVD Running on ·Cisco
- cpe:2.3:h:cisco:4221_integrated_services_router:-:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions not specified by NVD Running on ·Cisco
Show 7 more CPE
| CPE | Versions | Role | Vendor |
|---|---|---|---|
| cpe:2.3:h:cisco:4321_integrated_services_router:-:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | not specified by NVD | Running on | Cisco |
| cpe:2.3:h:cisco:4331_integrated_services_router:-:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | not specified by NVD | Running on | Cisco |
| cpe:2.3:h:cisco:4351_integrated_services_router:-:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | not specified by NVD | Running on | Cisco |
| cpe:2.3:h:cisco:4431_integrated_services_router:-:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | not specified by NVD | Running on | Cisco |
| cpe:2.3:h:cisco:4451_integrated_services_router:-:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | not specified by NVD | Running on | Cisco |
| cpe:2.3:h:cisco:4461_integrated_services_router:-:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | not specified by NVD | Running on | Cisco |
| cpe:2.3:h:cisco:asr_1000:-:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | not specified by NVD | Running on | Cisco |
- cpe:2.3:h:cisco:4321_integrated_services_router:-:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions not specified by NVD Running on ·Cisco
- cpe:2.3:h:cisco:4331_integrated_services_router:-:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions not specified by NVD Running on ·Cisco
- cpe:2.3:h:cisco:4351_integrated_services_router:-:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions not specified by NVD Running on ·Cisco
- cpe:2.3:h:cisco:4431_integrated_services_router:-:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions not specified by NVD Running on ·Cisco
- cpe:2.3:h:cisco:4451_integrated_services_router:-:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions not specified by NVD Running on ·Cisco
- cpe:2.3:h:cisco:4461_integrated_services_router:-:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions not specified by NVD Running on ·Cisco
- cpe:2.3:h:cisco:asr_1000:-:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions not specified by NVD Running on ·Cisco
Remediation
No fixed version listed by the sources yet.
Timeline
- 2026-10-02 Threatist record created from CVE-2021-1371
- 2026-10-03 Alias added: GHSA-8qm4-vmvc-xrpj
References
More Cisco Ios Xe Sd-wan vulnerabilities
- TI-2025-14647 Stack-based buffer overflow in Cisco IOS KEVCVSS 3.1HIGH 7.7
- TI-2021-01110 Cisco IOS XE SD-WAN Software Parameter Injection Vulnerabilities CVSS 3.1MEDIUM 6.7
- TI-2020-02926 Cisco SD-WAN Solution Software Buffer Overflow Vulnerability CVSS 3.1CRITICAL 9.8
- TI-2021-13726 Cisco IOS XE SD-WAN Software Buffer Overflow Vulnerability CVSS 3.1CRITICAL 9.8
- TI-2021-01028 Cisco SD-WAN Buffer Overflow Vulnerabilities CVSS 3.1CRITICAL 9.8
- TI-2021-01027 Cisco SD-WAN Buffer Overflow Vulnerabilities CVSS 3.1CRITICAL 9.8
Sources
- CVE-2021-1371 · CVE Program
- CVE-2021-1371 · NVD
- FIRST EPSS
- GHSA-8qm4-vmvc-xrpj · GitHub Advisory Database · CC BY 4.0
This product uses the NVD API but is not endorsed or certified by the NVD. Sources and licences